Thanks to the Angels’ wild comeback win over the Rangers on Saturday, the final day of baseball’s regular season still means something out west.
The Angels, Rangers and the Astros, who beat the Diamondbacks 6-2 Saturday night, will all play on Sunday afternoon with postseason spots on the line. The Rangers, who have already clinched a playoff berth, and Houston are both in contention for the AL West, while the Angels still have a shot at the second wild-card spot.
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Here’s the simple breakdown: Texas wins the division with either a win or an Astros loss. Houston clinches a postseason berth with a win over the Diamondbacks or an Angels loss.
However, an Angels win – regardless of Astros’ result – opens up multiple tie-breaking scenarios that would be sorted out in a play-in game Monday. An LA win and Houston win moves the Astros into a tie with the Rangers atop the AL West, while a Houston loss coupled with an Angels win moves those two teams into a tie for the second wild-card spot.
Here’s out the tiebreakers shake out:
What happens if the Astros and Angels tie for the wild card?
The Astros would host the Angels in a tiebreaker Monday thanks to a 10-9 season-series win. The winner would play the Yankees in New York in Tuesday’s wild-card game.
What happens if the Rangers and Astros tie for the AL West?
The Rangers would host the Astros in a tiebreaker Monday thanks to a 13-6 season-series win. The winner advances to the ALDS while the loser plays the Yankees in Tuesday’s wild-card game.
What happens if the Rangers and Astros tie, and the Yankees finish with the same record?
Sunday is also an important day for the Yankees. New York would finish at 87-75 with a loss to the Orioles, giving them the same record as the Astros and Rangers. Both AL West squads won the season series over the Yankees, meaning the loser of Monday’s game would host Tuesday’s wild-card game.
Meanwhile, four different teams will be playing for home-field advantage.
Who holds the tiebreaker between the Pirates and Cubs?
The Pirates hold a one-game lead over the Cubs, but Chicago won the season series 11-8. If Pittsburgh wins or the Cubs lose, the Pirates will host Wednesday’s NL wild-card game. Chicago can host with a win over the Brewers and a Pittsburgh loss to the Reds.
Who holds the tiebreaker between the Royals and Blue Jays?
The Royals and Blue Jays will be playing for the best record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the postseason, thanks to the AL's win in the All-Star Game. Kansas City holds a one-game lead over Toronto, but lost the season series 4-3. The Blue Jays would clinch the top spot with a win over the Rays and a Royals loss to the Twins.